ERIC DJEMBA-DJEMBA vows he might stick around in Scottish football even if he can’t strike a dream deal at St Mirren.

The 32-year-old Cameroon midfielder arrived in Paisley on a short-term deal last month but hopes to extend his contract.

He’s enjoying life in Scotland – both the standard of football here and the fact he gets paid on time at the Buds.

Djemba-Djemba went three months unpaid at last club Partizan Belgrade and told MailSport: “My loyalty is to St Mirren. I will give them first option on me.

“If, however, we don’t agree anything, then I will consider staying in Scotland with another club. I like it here. I like the football. So, why not?

“After my experience in Serbia, this is great. I did not receive wages for three months at Partizan. It was difficult to stay focused and motivated.

“But in Scotland it is different. It is structured and clubs abide by the rules. I want to play as many games as possible and do my bit to make sure Saints remain in the Premiership. We face some high pressure games.

“But I thrive under the pressure.

“If we do not stay up, then I will feel pain. St Mirren now have a place in my heart. We play at Celtic Park next weekend and want to get at least a draw.

“But it is important we don’t lose sight of the next 10 games. We want to stay in this league and I think we will.”

Djemba-Djemba is impressed by the attitude of the young players at St Mirren and their willingness to learn.

He said: “There is a good attitude within the squad and the players always want to work hard. Our young players should welcome the pressure they are under.

“They have the ability to produce good football and not collapse with the strain.

“They showed last week against Kilmarnock there is a good mentality, we have just not displayed it often enough.

“The young players are respectful. They want to talk to me but will wait until I approach them. I was the same when I was young with senior professionals.

“I like to laugh and joke with them. They enjoy my personality. I feel good in the morning because I know it is going to be a positive experience at training.

“I give them advice about football and about their own game. They enjoy tactical talk and always want to improve.

“We have good players – for instance John McGinn has just about every attribute to become a very good midfielder.”

Djemba-Djemba has enjoyed taking some of the youngsters under his wing. It reminds him of when he was an inexperienced player at Manchester United.

He said: “When I went to United I was close to Ruud van Nistelrooy. From the first day we just hit it off and remain friends.

“He comes from Holland where there are many black people. He feels very relaxed with black people, black footballers.

“He asked me about my country and the culture. But there was also an edge to him and I liked that.

“He would shout at me. He pushed me to improve, to take me to the limit. He demanded high standards. Roy Keane was exactly the same.”

Djemba-Djemba hopes to round this season off by being selected for the Cameroon squad for the World Cup.

He said: “I do not expect to be included in the squad for Brazil but it would be a fantastic bonus to be a part of it.

“I was at Japan and Korea in 2002. We were also in South Africa in 2010 and finished on zero points from our section.

“We want much better this summer but there isn’t a high level of expectation from the people in our country.”